Coast Guard Authorization Act Implementation, Reconciliation, Force Design 2028

Right back.

Sure, let's go. Subcommittee, the Coast Guard maritime transportation will come to order. I ask unanimous consent that the Chairman be authorized to declare recess at any time during today's hearing, without objection, so ordered. I also ask unanimous consent that members not only subcommittee be permitted to sit with the subcommittee at today's hearing and ask questions, without objection, so ordered. As a reminder, if members wish to insert a document into the record, please also email it to documentsTI@mail.house.gov. I now recognize myself for the purpose of an opening statement for five minutes. Today we discussed the Coast Guard's progress towards implementing the Coast Guard Authorization Act of twenty twenty five, as well as the one big beautiful bill act of twenty twenty five. First, I would like to welcome our witnesses, Vice Admiral Schofield, Chief of Staff of the United States Coast Guard, and Miss Trina McNeil, Director of Homeland Security and Justice Programs at the Government Accountability Office. I understand that both of you, it is your first time testifying today before the subcommittee. I appreciate you being here very much and it'll be a good hearing. I look forward to your testimony. The Coast Guard is a military service that performs a comprehensive set of safety, life-saving, law enforcement and national security missions. The services, activities, benefit and safeguard recreational boaters, commercial vessel operators and commercial fishing. The general public benefits from the Coast Guard personnel who bravely and carry out duties that save lives enforce the law battle transnational criminal enterprises and protect the national security and territorial integrity of the united states they perform all these function exceptionally well especially in light of the fact that the service is an organization that is chronically under-resourced the one big beautiful bill act was historic twenty-five billion investment in the coast guard it represents an effort to clear the way for the Coast Guards recapitalized as dilapidated shoreside service and air assets and to create a twenty-first century service capable of meeting the twenty-first century challenges and threats. The bill provides for the equivalent of staggering fifteen years' worth of annual procurement funding and it's the largest single investment in the Coast Guard's history. The Coast Guard has obligated a large portion of these funds provided by the law, This committee and Congress have a responsibility to ensure the dollars entrusted to the Coast Guard are being spent responsibly and as they were intended. To do that, we require clarity on where the assets were being procured will be home poured and how the Coast Guard plans to build the shoreside infrastructure necessary to sustain them. Importantly, this includes sufficient housing and related facilities for the Coast Guard members who accrue these platforms. The Coast Guard Authorization Act of twenty twenty five authorizes appropriations for numerous assets including the twelfth National Security Cutter, three fast response cutters, a commercial ice breaker, and the Arctic Security Cutter program, including evaluating foreign shipyards in Finland and Sweden. Both bills also establish accountability measures to ensure the service is responsive to congressional direction and is acting as a good steward of taxpayer dollars. Beyond these accountability measures, the bill also authorizes appropriations for operation and support and procurement and investment accounts through fiscal year twenty, twenty-seven. That amount sufficient for the Coast Guard to begin increasing the number of uniformed and civilian personnel needed to maintain the assets purchased with reconciliation funds as well as to hire a sufficient maritime safety work. The legislation also takes measures to ensure that members needed to serve on these assets had sufficient health care and child care. The Coast Guard Authorization Act of twenty twenty-five imposes needed accountability requirements related to the home porting and maintenance acquisition planning a long-standing issue for the Coast Guard we are concerned that the service's apparent lack of planning puts not just modernization efforts but also mission and compliments in jeopardy. We are interested in learning today how the Coast Guard will meet these accountability requirements. Coast Guard modernization efforts are taking place under the architecture of the Forced Design twenty twenty eight plan, which envisions a comprehensive overhaul of the services leadership, organization, technology and contracting, and acquisition process. So far, the Coast Guard has undertaken several actions to begin implementation of forced design twenty twenty eight, including growing the workforce by over eleven hundred positions, realigning sixty eight percent of positions across the Coast Guard headquarters and realigning the services top acquisitions projects. To help meet the goals of future personnel growth, the Coast Guard has also purchased an additional training center in Birmingham, Alabama. Today's hearing provides an forum to articulate where the Coast Guard pursuing the goals of forced design twenty twenty eight and the path to successfully and completely implement all its objectives. The Government Accountability Office has carefully extensively examined Coast Guard programs and management practices over the years. They bring an important perspective to the discussion about what proper stewardship of appropriated funds and responsible planning and administration of a large government agency should look like. I will be listening with a keen ear to the points Miss McNeil makes and any recommendations she has. Finally, I would be remiss if I did not take this opportunity once again state that the Coast Guard has failed to provide the committee with statutorily required long-term acquisition planning documents, or years on end. This persistent failure to meet legally mandated reporting requirements raises serious concerns about whether the service is making appropriate spending decisions. Congress recognizes the value of the Coast Guard and delivers and wants the service to reach its fullest of its potential. The continued growth and investment the Coast Guard is contingent upon continued investment in by the service by Congress. Clear transparency and meaningful accountability of how the Coast Guard is setting its priorities allocating its resources and truly manning planning for its immediate and future needs are key to maintaining the levels of congressional support necessary for the organization to continue to grow and meet all the demands for its services. Lastly, I want to recognize two staff members who will soon be departing of the subcommittee. Lieutenant Commander Lindsay Shacolle served as the Scubs Committee's Coast Guard Fellow over the last year. She left her mark on the subcommittee, helping to strengthen the service and providing expert legal analysis. The subcommittee's legal assistant, Spencer Thompson, is also departing to pursue an aviation career after multiple subcommittee internships and nearly two years on the subcommittee, where the he supported pass of the Coast Guard reconciliation investments and the Coast Guard Authorization Act of twenty twenty five. To both of you, I wish you the best of luck in the future endeavors. I now recognize Ranking Member Carbajal for five minutes for an opening statement.

Thank you, Chairman Rizal. I will yield to our ranking member, uh, Mister Larson.

Mister Larson.

Go ahead.

Thank you. Thank you, Chair Rizal, Ranking Member Carvajal, for holding this hearing to examine the significant changes underway at the Coast Guard. Congressional oversight is more important than ever as the Coast Guard undergoes transformational change as a result of recent authorizations, reconciliation funding, and the forest design, twenty twenty eight. I want to thank our witnesses, Vice Admiral Douglas uh, Schofield and uh, Miss Triana McNeil for being here today to discuss the Coast Guard's successes and challenges in implementing recently enacted laws and in obligating the funding from reconciliation. Despite these investments in the reconciliation bill, GA GAO reports that Coast Guard is not only falling behind its acquisition and procurement targets, but has made operational decisions that have actively harmed its ability to carry out essential duties. Couple of points I wanna make. It is unacceptable the Coast Guard has not yet restored the dozens of stations that have been closed or downgraded since twenty twenty four. These closures have reduced the agency's ability to effectively conduct search and rescue operations across our country, a decision with life or death consequences. A twenty twenty five GAO report found that due to personnel shortages, the Coast Guard closed twenty three seasonal boat stations and reduced SAR coverage associated with nineteen other stations. This reduced SAR capability has put a strain on local first responders. The Combined has said that the Coast Guard's search and rescue mission re- represents a sacred trust with the American people. And the agency must pri- prioritize using its new resources and service members to restore that sacred trust. A question I will have when we get to questions is when is the Coast Guard going to reconstitute forty-two search and rescue focus stations. I'm also concerned the administration is going to negatively impact the Coast Guard's efforts to curb sexual assault sexual and sexual harassment, and harassment. While I believe the Commandant is truly invested in this issue, the administration's decision to shutter the Women's Leadership Initiative, the Federally Employed Women and Women's Leadership Council, all that limits the voice of women in this service. the very people whose input is needed when developing policies to combat sexual assault and sexual harassment. Congress enacted dozens of reforms in response to Operation Foul Anchor, which revealed flagrant and negligent mishandlings of sexual assault and sexual harassment cases involving Coast Guard personnel. Some of these reforms included expedited transfers for victims and survivors, updating the process for obtaining protective orders, and establishing a confidential reporting system. The women and men of the Coast Guard deserve the immediate and complete implementation of these reforms as we work to eliminate sexual assault and harassment from the service. I do want to acknowledge the Coast Guard has had success in implementing parts of recent authorizations, something near and dear to the Pacific Northwest, is that in the twenty twenty-two Coast Guard Authorization Act, it authorized the creation of a whale-desk traffic alert system in our state. a new program to protect workers and other marine life from vessel strikes by providing operators and mariners with near real-time location data. The program has been a success in my home state, allowing for safer maritime operations and reductions in noise pollution around Wales. I'm pleased that Congress reauthorized this program, but with the recent whale strike in Alaska, we need to look forward to working with the Coast Guard to expand it to other regions. I look forward to engaging with our witnesses on the progress the Coast Guard's making to modernize their organization and ensure that Coasties have the necessary funding, resources, and infrastructure to save lives, protect the American public, and to keep commerce flowing. Thank you and a yield back.

Gentlemen yield. I'd like now to welcome our witnesses. Mister Karberhoff.

Thank you, uh, Chairman Ezell. And thank you to our two witnesses for being here today. Over the past year we have spoken on many occasions about what reconciliation funding is going to do for the Coast Guard. Now that it's being spent, congressional oversight isn't just appropriate, it's necessary more than ever. I am glad that we are now talking about the implementation of policies and projects that have come up, come out of prior Coast Guard authorizations, reconciliation, and the Commandant's vision for the service. But I must say, it can be exceptionally frustrating when the agency refuses to be more transparent, sidesteps the law, or says one thing and does another. Let me give you an example. Congress gave you money to buy Cone thirties. We then found out from the press that the direction of the former secretary of Homeland Security, you planned to purchase two shiny new G seven hundred executive jets. When you came to brief Congress, you told us, " Don't worry, we're gonna get reimbursed so we can buy and missionize six C one thirties and purchase flight simulators." Secretary Noem left, and to my knowledge, you still have not been reimbursed. So I will make my point again. Congressional oversight isn't just important, it is necessary. Now I want to be clear, I support the Coast Guard and I want to make sure the service has the resources to fulfill its mission. That means more Coast Guard funding. I could not agree more with the current and former Commandant that you are currently a twenty billion dollar service, and deserve that level of funding. I believe all of my colleagues on this subcommittee agree. But as Congress provides more funding, and the size of this service grows, the Coast Guard must remain accountable. Congress works, sometimes for years, on negotiating changes to the law, based on issues or the needs of the service. Unfortunately, we often have to revisit those laws because the Coast Guard deceptively changes regulations implements incorrectly or refuses to enforce altogether. Not only is this frustrating for Congress, but more importantly, this hurts the readiness and resiliency of the service members who rely on steady, principled leadership to do their jobs. Proper oversight and meaningful legislative change depends on trust and transparency, and the Coast Guard needs to do better in this respect. As we move forward with today's hearing, I look forward to hearing an update from the Coast Guard on the implementation of my small passenger vessel safety act. In the Elijah E. Cummings Coast Guard Authorization Act of twenty twenty, Congress enacted my bill, the Small Passenger Vessel Safety Act, which included several changes that increased the safety of small passenger vessels. This legislation came following the tragic loss of thirty-four lives when the motor vessel MV Conception caught fire off of my district. As a result, I have worked to ensure no family loses their loved one w- again in similar ways. And in the Don Young Coast Guard Authorization Act of twenty twenty two, I fought to ensure victims or their families, like the ones from the Conception boat fire, can recoup the damages they are owed when there is negligence. The last update I received from the Coast Guard is that the service was working expeditiously to update regulations and enforce all but one requirement, updates to safety management systems. I look forward to hearing from the Coast Guard today about your efforts to complete full implementation of that law. As I conclude my remarks, I want to say that there is truly no organization like the Coast Guard in the world. Our country is undoubtedly safer because of their service. Every time we call on the Coast Guard, they've answered. I look forward to hearing from the Coast Guard on spending plans, policy changes, and policy implementation. With that, Mr. Chairman, I yield back.

Gentlemen yields, I now wanna welcome our witnesses today and I wanna thank you both for being here. Briefly, I'd like to take a moment to explain our lighting system to our witnesses. There are three lights in front of you. Green means go, yellow means you're running out of time, and red means conclude your remarks. I ask unanimous consent that the witnesses' full statements be included in the record. Without objection, so ordered. I ask unanimous consent that the record of today's hearing remain open until such time as our witnesses have provided. answers to any questions that may be submitted to them in writing, without objection, so ordered. I also ask you in Adam's consent that the record remain open for fifteen days for any additional comments and information submitted by members of the oral witnesses to be included in the record of today's hearing, without objection, so ordered. As your written testimony has been made part of the record, uh the subcommittee asks that you limit your oral remarks to five minutes. With that, Admiral Schof- Schofield, You are recognized for five minutes of your testimony.

Chairman Izzell, Ranking Member Carbajal, and members of the subcommittee, thank you for the opportunity to testify today and for your continued support of the United States Coast Guard. The American people depend on the Coast Guard every day and we deliver. We save lives, we control, secure and defend the US border and maritime approaches far at sea. We facilitate the safe and secure flow of commerce that relies on our ports, waterways, shipping, and merchant mariners, vital to America's economic prosperity and national security. And we also respond to crises or contingencies that may come with little or no warning. We conduct these missions across four operational domains that make us up the, uh, U. S. homeland. In the U. S. mainland, from the inland navigable waterways and great lakes, along the US border and its approaches, throughout the Caribbean and the Western Hemisphere, including the two US territories in the Caribbean, and Alaska in its approaches, including the Arctic, and Hawaii and the three US territories across the Pacific and their approaches, including remote areas of the US exclusive economic zone and Oceania, and importantly, in cyberspace. Today the nation is asking more of the Coast Guard than ever before. To meet this demand, we are transforming our service to become a more agile, capable, and responsive force. This transformation rests on three foundational pillars which we're here to discuss today. The Coast Guard Authorization Act, the historic funding provided in fiscal year twenty twenty-five budget reconciliation, and our blueprint for modernization force design. First, the Coast Guard Authorization Act of twenty-five provides the critical authorities we need to modernize and deliver results at speed and at scale. We are actively implementing its provisions, integrating new mandates, and strengthening our oversight. This law enhances transparency and enables us to deliver greater capability and accountability to the American people. Second, the nearly twenty-five billion dollars provided by the fiscal year twenty twenty five reconciliation represents a historic and vital down payment on the future of the United States Coast Guard. We are moving with a clear sense of urgency to turn this investment into capability. To date, we have obligated more than fourteen billion dollars to acquire new assets like the Arctic security cutters and offshore patrol cutters, to modernize our aircraft, and to invest in our critical infrastructure. we are on target to obligate twenty billion dollars by the end of this calendar year. However, I must be clear. While this investment is crucial, it is a down payment, not the final payment. Without consistent, predictable, annual top-down line growth, our continued success and, importantly, our readiness is at risk. We must continue to complete the acquisitions, advance by reconciliation, including the infrastructure required to support these assets, and house Coast Guard families. Finally, forced design is our blueprint to build the Coast Guard of the future. This is the most significant modernization effort undertaken in over a century. We are streamlining our organization to make faster decisions, we are investing in our people, our most valuable asset, and we are leveraging new technologies to extend the reach and effectiveness of our crews on the front lines. Thanks to the leadership of President Trump, Secretary Mullen, and Congress, the Coast Guard has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to strengthen America's maritime advantage. The authorities provided by the Coast Guard Authorization Act, the historic investment made through reconciliation, and the transformational reforms of forced design has put us on a clear path to build the Coast Guard, the nation needs. With your continued support, we will deliver the people, the capabilities, and infrastructure required to protect the American people, secure our maritime interests, and advance our nation's prosperity in an increasingly contested maritime domain. Our history makes one thing clear. When America invests in the United States Coast Guard, The Coast Guard delivers. Thank you and I look forward to questions.

Gentlemen Yields. Miss McNeil, you're recognized for five minutes.

Chairman Izzell, Ranking Member Carvajal, and Larson, and members of the subcommittee. I am pleased to be here today to discuss GAO's examination of the Coast Guard's modernization efforts. For fiscal year twenty twenty-six, Congress appropriated about thirteen point five billion to the service. Congress also included nearly twenty five billion in the one big beautiful bill act in fiscal year twenty twenty five. This was the largest single commitment of funding in Coast Guard history. This funding was for Coast Guard procurement of cutters and aircraft, and modernizing shore infrastructure and maritime surveillance systems. The service said these investments support the intent of forced design, initiatives that include developing and increasing remote and autonomous systems, and maritime domain awareness capabilities. It could also strengthen the Coast Guard's ability to counter drug trafficking, conduct search and rescue, and manage other missions. Given the historical amount of funding provided to the service, GAO has questions about what the Coast Guard has learned from prior recent reforms and if it is applying those lessons learned as it implements forced design. Since twenty nineteen, we assessed four Coast Guard reform efforts, one addressing sexual misconduct, two modernization of mission planning and mission support functions, the third was reorganization of its reserve component, and fourth reorganization of its deployable specialized forces. Key gaps in Coast Guard's reform efforts that we consistently identified include issues like what was the service trying to achieve and how would it know if it reached the goal? Second, what process and related information was used to develop these reforms? Third, what practices did the service put in place to ensure sustained leadership focus during implementation? and sustained tracking of progress throughout the implementation phase. We found some similar gaps when we reviewed Coast Guard's forced design. We found that the key documents related to forced design need to be updated so that it is clear how the reform is aligned with the Coast Guard's missions and desired outcomes, and that it includes measurable targets for each emphasis related to organization, people, technology, and contracting and acquisition. The service also needs to develop an evaluation plan. That includes mechanisms for assessing the effectiveness of reform actions, clarify for yourself and decision makers what success looks like, and how will the service know when it gets there. We are making two recommendations today to the Coast Guard to address these gaps. We look forward to working with the Coast Guard as it continues to move forward with its efforts to transform the service into a more capable and agile force, that meets current and future challenges. Thank you for inviting us today.

Thank you. Thank you both for your testimony. We'll now turn to questions from the panel. I'll recognize myself for five minutes for question. Admiral? Section seventy one eleven of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of twenty twenty five requires the Coast Guard to produce an initial home porting plan that describes the home ports for current cutters in the aircraft and where the future aircraft and surface assets that the Coast Guard is acquiring will be based. We require this report to facilitate the service's long-term planning for the billions of dollars of surface and air assets funded by Congress. That will be coming online over the next decade. I fear that if the whole port planning does not begin soon, the Coast Guard will be left with a fleet of new aircraft and cutters that will have nowhere to go. The report was due last week. When can we expect the report? And can you explain the priority of the service is giving the Coast Guard priority service is giving to finalize its long-term planning needs.

Chairman, the uh the continued planning for the home ports and uh and acquisitions uh is very important to the Coast Guard and we're continuing to work on that report and plan to have that by the end of the calendar year.

Thank you. This is one that's very very Dear to me, too often the Coast Guard has selected the lowest cost bidder for the projects, even if they lack the proper experience or skill sets, which has resulted in program delays, cost overruns, and outright contract of can contract cancellations. The Coast Guard Act of twenty twenty five provides at the Coast Guard the ability to select contractors based on the holistic criteria, including their skill set, so that we are not forced to select the cheapest bidder who can actually do the work. It is crucial that the service properly utilize these reforms. Can you describe how you anticipate the Coast Guard using this new authority so that you are able to deliver the best value for the taxpayer?

Chairman, thank you for the question. Um, there's no doubt this authority affirms the Coast Guard's ability to uh select acquisition proposals that represent the best value to the American people. Uh while cost is certainly uh one factor, other selection criteria such as schedule, uh past performance, demonstrated experience as you mentioned, or other technical factors can also inform that selection, while supporting competition among capable industrial partners. So we're gonna continue to use that and appreciate your efforts uh in those that authorization. uh, so we give that best value to the American taxpayers.

Thank you. Miss McNeil, the Coast Guard is undertaking force design twenty twenty eight, which aims to modernize the service to meet its future needs. In your initial review, have you determined whether the service has established success criteria or measures for any of its lines of effort with respect to force design?

So based on our assessment of the three documents that we were able to obtain about forced design, we have found a few gaps that we would expect to see, and that that's why we based our recommendations on that assessment, in terms of ensuring that it's clear how forced design is linked to its mission, and its outcomes that it's trying to achieve with forced design. So making sure that there's a clear line between the efforts planned and what is the purpose behind forced design. And there needs to be measurable targets so you can chart that progress made toward those goals. So that's what's missing. And then there needs to be an evaluation component as well. So as you're making progress, you're charting your path, you're meeting interim goals, what's the effectiveness, what's the impact of forced design? um in past federal efforts to do big reforms, especially when there's a lot of money involved, when you're making progress or you're going down a path and you're finding that you're not making progress, it's time to pivot. And it's time to target that very precious taxpayer dollar into other efforts that might be worth more worth more and more impactful. And so that's some of the things that we would recommend today.

Thank you. I'm gonna go through this one pretty quick. Similarly, uh part of the expansion in workforce will certainly require large civilian workforce. You were asked to conduct a study on the employment, compensation, competitive assignments and retention of civilian and military personnel. While early in the process, can you offer any insight at at your current findings on civilians?

I'm sorry, I'm not clear about what that question was.

I'm not either. Partly expansion in the workforce will certainly require a larger civilian workforce. You were asked to conduct a study on employment compensation, competitiveness, assignments, and retention of civilian and military personnel. While early in the process, can you offer any insight at your current findings?

We'll have to get back to you on that particular question. We'll get an a response for the record.

Thank you. I yield back. Mister Carbajal.

Thank you, Mister Chair. As usual, I uh defer to our ranking member, Mister Larson.

Thank you. Thank you, Mister Chair. Um, Vice Admiral Schofield, um, where do we stand on the process of reopening stations that were closed or downsized through due to workforce shortages?

Recommend our uh Larson.

So, uh, just recently the, uh, Commandant directed the Deputy Commandant for Operation and our two Operational Commanders to identify and prioritize these stations to return to their former operating statuses. We are focusing on manning boat and air stations to workforce levels to operate safely and effectively, moving ahead. In the, uh, fiscal year twenty-seven President's budget, uh, it does support this by adding one to two additional uh boat crews across our hundred and sixty-six stations. So we're gonna analyze uh once we receive our budget uh merge that with the priorities uh we'll we'll return uh members to those units uh in the uh mission priority outcome uh level.

Can I can I clarify what you said uh you said one to two boat crews at per station?

One to two boat crews per s- uh of

Per station.

per station of the hundred and sixty-six stations.

Okay, yeah. Alright, yeah. And um then what about maintaining that then year after year, as as you meet recruitment goals and putting people back uh at the stations with the um with the platforms they need to do their job?

Yeah, we're we're we're working uh working up that full plan and uh we'll be able to brief uh the committee when we're ready to do that, sir.

Will that be part of the forced redesign or is this gonna be um complementing it like not it can't be totally separate i get that but is it does it have to take place within the forced redesign or can it take place

yeah this is this is separate from the forced design efforts uh here uh this is uh getting our workforce back up to strength and being able to get to the the end strength that we need of another fifteen thousand members uh to serve across uh the coast guard

That's helpful. Thank you. Um, so I know that uh Admiral Lunde has made Lunde has made the eradication of sexual misconduct a priority. What steps is the Coast Guard doing to taking to manage and monitor the success of its actions to combat sexual misconduct, consistent with um responding to OFA?

Sir, uh sexual assault, yeah, is a violent crime that uh causes devastating trauma to all individuals. uh, destroys that sacred trust between our teammates and, uh, we acknowledge that, and really degrades our ability to execute our missions. Um, the Commandant, uh, released his first action order this year, which was, uh, labeled " Combating Sexual Assault". So he takes that very, very seriously. And it sets forth the service's direction on combating, uh, the sexual assault, and, and the criminal behaviors that enable it. His order is clear and unwavering. uh we will hold those who commit these crimes accountable under a law and policy and and board of directors.

wait can i ask can i ask um so the several provisions in the coast guard authorization addressed updating standards and the training for service members is this order um uh does this order respond to those uh uh standards updating

the the order uh actually basically requires us to and the vice common on is already chartered a a sexual assault prevention Response Recovery Committee to work all of those requirements.

And does it, is it consistent with completing the statular required strategy and action plan on the independent review commission's recommendations on sexual misconduct?

Yes, sir.

Um, record retention in general has been a problem with the Coast Guard, with requirement in the SASH title for advanced records retention for victims. Has the Coast Guard used any of the funding appropriated in the last two years to modernize your records retention with regards to uh the sash title

so we continue to uh look look at that system and modernize it i don't have a current status but i can get back to you with a status

can you get back to us with that please i very much appreciate it uh also in my uh uh my opening comments um i noted the termination of various associations uh that could be used as important channels uh for the coast guard to use feedback how are you filling in the gap now that the administration has cut off these particular associations, how are you filling the gap in order to get um feedback and response from groups uh within the Coast Guard about sexual harassment and and conduct and progress towards eliminating both?

So uh uh, sir, we're we're continuing to work this across all our commands as part of our readiness initiatives as well as uh feedback directly from the field to our our sapper uh committees personnel and uh as we work towards uh really a cultural index across the coast guard and how we're doing

you need it you need to take this seriously and show the steps that you're taking the sexual misconduct and harassment the history of it seriously as well as moving forward this committee and the and the congress has told you to do that

yes sir

thank you i'll yield back

gentlemen yield Do you recognize Mister Webster?

Thank you, Mister Chairman. Appreciate it. Uh

Welcome.

Vice Admiral, it's good to see you again. Uh, thank you for your testimony. Uh, I have a few questions. Uh The The one bee- beautiful bill act uh provides sufficient funds to build two uh uh polar security cutters and as well as procure long lead time items that go on the third third one. So, we kinda get a head start there. Uh, can you provide an update on the PSC program?

Sir, I I understand the question would be just give an update on the polar security, uh, cutter program.

Yes.

So, sir, we um, we have funded holes one and two And a partially funded Hall three in that program. We continue to make great progress in that construction and we're excited to, uh, continue to build, uh, the first polar security cutters in a, in over fifty years.

Do you know what the, cuz you've given an assessment of the progress, I mean what, what type of, uh, time frame are we looking at more, a little more specific?

Yes, sir. They're, we're looking to deliver the first, uh, polar security cutter by the end of uh twenty nine.

Twenty nine? Are they uh progressing you're not waiting for twenty nine to start the second one you're right, is that correct?

Yes sir, they're continuing to work the the materials uh the learning from hole one and and continuing that construction effort.

Great. So um the uh Coast Guard Authorization Act of two thousand twenty five provides for coast uh coast guard this ability just like contractors based on something other than just price. Um do you have uh kind of an idea of how that new authority is gonna be used?

Chairman, uh that authority is gonna be used within our best value continuum, our our best value uh efforts uh in c in contracting, we can use that uh

So as long as a contractor has the ability to do the program, cost would be some part of that dec uh decision, right?

Uh, sir, can you repeat that question?

Well, uh as long uh as long as there's a lot of talk about somebody not being qualified, so if they were to low bid they wouldn't get the job, but uh if somebody has the ability to do it and yet bids uh in a reasonable manner, Um, do you think that uh it's not just cost, but uh there that will provide part of the solution of who you would choose?

Yes sir, as part of that uh in the solicitation we would uh make sure that we put all those factors that are important to selecting the best value for this contract we can we can do that beyond price we can do technical factors, past performance uh, experience, uh, facilities, et cetera.

Does it speed up the process by, uh, not having to use prices the only, or does it slow it down?

Uh, best value can be a a good way to get to a a final contract to make sure that the, um, the contract's executable, um, and staying on track.

Okay, thank you very much. You're back.

Mr. Carvajal.

Thank you, Mister Chair. Vice Admiral Schofield, in my statement I talked about the importance of steady principal leadership. During consideration of the last Coast Guard authorization act, Congress considered changes to Manning requirements on articulated tug barges, ATBs. We didn't make those changes because in part the Admiral in charge of prevention and the Commandant at the hearing said quote, " We do not believe that the technology is sufficiently advanced in robotics and automation to be able to reduce below the current levels." End quote. Yet last month, we got notice that the Coast Guard made the changes through regulatory action. So what changed? What was the, was the commandant wrong? What was the epiphany that led to a major change in direction?

Uh, sir, the the safety of our mariners and our ships in uh the impact on our waterways is is really uh important to the Coast Guard and we continue to work that. Um, over the past

I'm I'm I'm glad that's the case, but that wasn't the question.

Yes, sir. Yes, sir. Uh, over the past decade, the Coast Guard has worked on this articulated tug and barge manning requirements with all the stakeholders and continue to assess. The updated policy provides a safe and balanced approach. uh to that manning uh and uh

I I understand, but what changed?

It it was really our review with the overall uh uh risk posture across the manning the systems on board uh and how they're operated.

Thank you. Uh Vice Admiral Schofield, in the Coast Guard's authorization act of twenty twenty, Congress included new safety management systems requirements for covered small passenger vessels. The Coast Guard has issued an advance notice of proposed rulemaking but has never moved forward with a formal NPRM or final rule. This is a major safety concern that even the National Transportation Safety Board has called for since twenty twelve. When can we expect a final rule? Or is the Coast Guard going to continue disregarding the law? And the remainder of the requirements such as fire suppression and egress remain as delayed as interim rules. Are we going to see final rules for these as well?

Sir, the uh passenger vessel safety is an unwavering uh uh Coast Guard priority for us. We enforce that a hundred percent compliance as you mentioned with the interim safety rules mandated uh by the Coast Guard. That includes that interconnected fire alarms, our secondary escapes requirements, and overnight watches to prevent these tragedies at sea. We're continuing to evaluate and Uh, we're looking to uh get that that full rule making.

Do we have a sense when the final rule um will come forward?

I don't have a date, but we can get you an answer on the record.

Great, thank you. And also on the fire suppression and egress issues as well. Uh, Miss McNeil, while I am glad that the Coast Guard is investing in housing in Santa Barbara, finally I'm concerned that the shoreside infrastructure account in the President's budget is woefully inadequate to address the totality of the Coast Guard's needs. Given the GAO's report that the shoreside infrastructure backlog is over seven billion dollars and growing daily, what is your best recommendation for the service to get this backlog under control? I think I already heard about the pivot. Maybe this is a time that they can pivot and create a better quality of life for all our coasties instead of doing all these exquisite ridiculous things that at the end of the day, we can't execute because we don't have healthy good morale amongst our coasties.

And I would agree. Um, there needs to come a time where there's some clarity about what does success look like. And if you've invested a certain amount of money, resources and time on efforts, and they're not achieving what those intended outcomes are, it's time to explore other options and alternatives and do some cost-benefit analysis. And it's okay. to pause, reassess, and reinvest. And so that's the suggestion that I would make here.

Thank you. Uh, Vice Admiral Schofield, last week a pregnant endangered fin whale was struck and killed by a cruise ship in Seaworld, Alaska, highlighting the need for additional measures to protect whales. Given the success of whale deaths in the Puget Sound, can this be replicated in other parts of the country?

Sir, uh, the safety of all vessels in our waterways and marine whale whales, uh, fish, et cetera, is important to, uh, the American people. Uh, we can continue, uh, to invest in in further cetacean deaths across the Coast Guard if resources are provided, sir.

So it can be replicated in other areas.

It c- it can be with the appropriate resources. Yes, sir.

Thank you. Mister Chair, yield back.

Gentlemen yields. Mister Baggage, recognize five minutes.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, my question for for Admiral Schofield. Um, we saw last week, uh, a a a helicopter crash near Sitka. And it's a sobering reminder of the dangers our Coast Guard crews face in Alaska. Fortunately, fortunately, all four members of the crash survived in recovering, uh, from their injuries. Uh, what is the latest in the investigation and what steps are being taken to ensure aviation safety operations in Alaska are improved.

Uh, sir, that certainly is a tragedy for uh all those members that were involved in the accident, as well as uh all Coast Guard uh men and women that uh continue uh to stay on the watch out there. Um, we we have uh initiated uh a mishap analysis board in a uh further an investigation on that uh situation, so we continue to monitor that. We have a robust processor uh to review the recommendations of the analysis board, uh to make sure that future operations uh are impacted by the by those strategies out there. We've been doing that uh uh for many, many years and it's it's been uh very prudent and uh very beneficial for our policy and our operational use.

Thank you, and I look I look f- I appreciate that and I look forward to continuing that that conversation outside this hearing. Um The budget reconciliation bill provided three and a half billion for Arctic security cutters and four point three billion for polar security cutters. I was very excited by the a recent announcement that the first two ASC's will be home ported in Kodiak with a subsequent ASC home ported in Seward. Can you provide an update on the acquisition timelines, current obligations, and delivery schedules for the Arctic security cutters and polar security cutters programs? And then in addition, what are the major infrastructure needs and

sir uh thank you for that question and uh the these arctic security cutters are gonna uh provide value for uh the american people on across our waterways and in the northern uh approaches um importantly we we have three contracts uh definitized in working towards the delivery of those vessels uh for up to eleven uh vessels. So those those have started. Uh we're looking to have uh the first several uh delivered in twenty eight.

And uh GAO puts the shoreside infrastructure backlog uh as was mentioned by my colleague at over seven billion dollars with half of Coast Guard facilities beyond their service life reconciliation provided four point four billion for shoreside construction. What portion of that backlog is attributable to Alaska installation specifically and how are Alaska projects being prioritized in the spending plan?

So, I can get back to you with the exact number, uh, for the uh the Alaskan uh backlog, but that's important because uh uh several of our first ships are going uh into that region to operate so uh those areas are very very important to the the Coast Guard and we continue to uh uh complete upgrades in Kodiak um and in Seward uh for our fast response cutters And we're currently assessing uh uh needs across uh Alaska uh to support our operations.

That would be great if you could get back to me on that. What I what I'd be looking for is what is the gap, what is the uh the planned appropriation within the Coast Guard for uh the funds that were made available through budget reconciliation, and what is the timeline through which uh those funds will be deployed, and for what. If I could get an itemized uh list uh from your team that would be very helpful. And uh appreciate all the work that you're doing in Alaska, appreciate that you're prioritizing Alaska. Uh this is a historic investment as we all know for the Coast Guard and Alaska uh is central to it uh appreciate your work and uh your team's mission and with that, I yield back.

Gentlemen yields, Mister Garamandi.

Uh thank you Mister Chairman and thank you for this hearing, very very important. Uh, and I want to also thank the GAO for their ongoing reports. Uh, it appears as though there's some twenty-five billion dollars of new money for the Coast Guard. For years and years, the Coast Guard has always been the neglected portion of our national security. Uh, that has changed as a result of uh recent legislation, and I'm very happy about that. However, I am concerned about how that money is going to be spent. Uh, Admiral, you've already said that uh some significant amount has been obligated and more will soon be obligated. My line of questions goes to the organizational structure to ensure that that new money for vessels, aircraft, sustainment, personnel, and infrastructure is being spent wisely. Could you please describe to us how you are organizing your staff, to carry out the responsibility of acquiring an the vessels, aircraft, also what your sustainment program is. Have you changed your organizational structure to carry out this enormous new task?

Sir, uh, as we really and I really appreciate the support of this subcommittee and in this with this reconciliation effort, is that really helped uh support uh the future of the coast guard as part of our force design we did uh consolidate both our sustainment and acquisition under one deputy commandant for systems importantly that one person uh is responsible for the the acquisition and the sustainment of these assets moving ahead under five peos including the new uh robotics and autonomous uh systems uh peo to be able to uh

yeah

complete oversight and ensure that we're putting the money in there in into the right areas within our budget and uh ensuring that the money is properly spent.

Has the GAO done a uh analysis of the organizational structures necessary to carry out these tasks and spend the money wisely?

So we have not embarked on uh

Why have you not?

We would love to do that work. We can help craft A request.

Yeah, all all nicey-nicey. What do you need to oversee the d- Coast Guard's implementation of the expenditure of some twenty-five billion new dollars?

A mandate or a request letter and we'll be on it.

Okay. Mister Chairman, I suggest that we provide such a mandated request letter that the GAO carefully, consistently um review the structural organization necessary to wisely spend this money. Admiral, are you confident that you have one admiral responsible? What staff does that admiral have to purchase these equipment, to make sure that the sustainment is the sustainment money is available, spare parts and pieces, and also the uh infrastructure, and also the personnel? I'm I'm curious about your organizational structure.

Yes, sir, what we've done is aligned all those responsible authorities under that one p- person to make sure

And and what is his staff?

Sir?

What staff does he or she have to carry out that responsibility?

So the the the head of contracting works for uh the deputy commandant for systems as well as each one of the uh program executive office. offices work directly for the deputy commandant for systems.

I would appreciate you would deliver to this subcommittee, and certainly to me, the organizational structure that you have in place, the personnel that you believe necessary to carry out the uh the multiple tasks, to wisely and efficiently spend the twenty-five billion new dollars. My final point goes to sustainability. Uh, the US Navy has a serious sustainability problem, as does the Air Force. What steps are you taking to assure that the sustainability of the existing and the new fleet of aircraft, vessels, and ports is carried out and sustained over the years ahead?

Sorry, I appreciate the uh the twenty-five budget reconciliation helped us uh jumpstart that with some funding to get after some of our legacy backlog needs for sustainment. Um, but, uh, we are a twenty billion dollar Coast Guard uh, operating on a fourteen billion dollar budget, and we need to continue and I I re- request your continuedness.

Well, here here's my concern, Mr. Chairman, is the three-letter word " but" that you just put forward. Uh, it is absolutely essential in my view that you have an organizational structure in place, the personnel necessary, uh, and the, um, Direction. Not only to get the new equipment, but also to sustain it, and with that I yield back.

Gentlemen yield. Mister Fuller, you're recognized five minutes.

Thank you, Mister Chairman, Admiral Sko- Scofield and um Director McNeill, thank you so much for being here. This is mainly directed initially at the the folks in and the road behind you and the rest of the Coast Guard. Before taking on this job, I was an elected district attorney, and what the Coast Guard does each and every day by showing such incredible courage, by jumping on submersibles and taking down uh drug runners quite literally saved lives in my Appalachian community. So I want to say thank you because we are losing far too many people, and I am so appreciative of the incredible work that you guys are doing. So I want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart for saving lives. Uh, one of the things that I wanted to do up here on Capitol Hill was punch the uh Communist Party of China in the face. And so one of the things that I wanna talk to you about, specifically related to the forced design, twenty twenty eight and countering China in the gray zone. Uh, Admiral, I'm interested, specifically as it relates to the Arctic and Antarctic, do you have the authorities that you need to counter China in the gray zone?

Yes, sir, uh, we continue to assess uh what our needs are up in the Arctic area. Um, We are putting a f- an emphasis on the Arctic uh region uh with that, as we build out these new assets uh to go into line, and as well as we continue to build out our fifteen thousand uh members uh under the President's vision of the Coast Guard of the future. Um, that will help support that uh that region to make sure that we can control, secure, and defend the maritime border.

Thank you. Um, One of the things that I wanted to talk about, when I was a district attorney, we used asset forfeitures a lot to fund law enforcement activities. And so I was wondering, uh, Chairman Ezell described you guys in this hearing as, uh, for the Coast Guard, chronically under-resourced. And I I just wanted to kind of get an understanding when it comes to the asset forfeiture specifically related when the the Coast Guard is involved, uh, can you walk me through the process of an asset forfeiture and um how that relates back to the coast guard.

Yes, sir, I I don't have all those details, but I can get back to you with my staff uh to give you a brief on all those steps on the a asset forfeiture process.

Okay. And then specifically do you have an, I don't need a a dollar figure, but do you have an understanding that some of the uh asset forfeitures that you're a part of in making or any of those resources coming back to the coast guard?

Uh, you know, most uh of the asset forfeitures go b back to treasury.

Go back to treasury. So n as far as you know, nothing directly going back to the Coast Guard, despite y'all are on the front lines, putting your lives on the on the line, right?

Yes, sir.

Okay. Okay. Thank you so much for your time. And, Mr. Chairman, I I yield back.

Gentlemen yields. Miss Gold, you're next.

Thank you, Mister Chair, and Mister Ranking Member, uh, and welcome. to our witnesses. Uh, I'll start by asking a a topic that I I talk about a lot here, the acquisition of an additional heavy Great Lakes icebreaker. This year was particularly difficult for late and uh early winter shipping on the Great Lakes with numerous delays. US carriers lost weeks, stuck in the ice, and couldn't deliver the necessary raw materials that drive American manufacturing. The Coast Guard has cited the need for additional heavy Great icebreakers as well and most recently included it in the service's unfunded priorities list. Still, we haven't seen meaningful acquisition uh tor- or meaningful action towards acquisition. Vice Admiral, can you please explain why, despite the the clear need here, the service has yet to provide its strategy, outlining how the Coast Guard will complete the design and construction of a Great Lakes icebreaker with the same capabilities as Mackinac. And and in your answer if you could include some references to some of the overall organizational structure within the Coast Guard and how and who is responsible for making sure uh these things happen, and on time.

Ma'am, we are uh diligently working on that report currently on that future acquisition, um importantly to meet all the uh statutory requirements of title fourteen. Um, we have uh fiscal year twenty-seven, uh as funding to for all those acquisition requirements um and

and i'm i'm sorry to interrupt but the the requirements by the twenty twenty-two NDA to create the publicly available database, can you just remind me what's the deadline for that?

uh we are currently working on that now uh and i can get back to you with a date uh from my staff.

ok but but internally you guys don't have a goal that you're working towards like we gotta get this done by next week we gotta get this done by twenty thirty

I I don't have the the specific date in with me

ok it seems like that would be very very helpful uh in terms of backwards planning to see when we wanna have this available when the American people can expect answers uh you know this is uh obviously a a huge deal not just for the great lakes but for the entire country that relies on the the great lakes economy these delays have been costly and at a time when the affordability crisis is absolutely crippling American families it's essential

Yes, ma'am.

Okay, we'll we'll we'll await your your response on that one then. Um, HR two made a historic investment in the Coast Guard to counter chronic underinvestment. I was thrilled to see the infusion of twenty-five billion in the Coast Guard to recapitalize its surface, air, and shoreside assets. However, I'm deeply concerned with the administration's track record when it comes to contracting. Earlier this year I requested the DHS Inspector General investigate allegations that Sean Planky who was at the time, acting as a senior advisor uh of the secretary of the coast guard was simultaneously consulting for a coast guard contractor despite likely being in a position to review substantial contracts. Vice Admiral, can you please touch on how the coast guard is ensuring that it is wisely using HR one investments which I may remind you is is not free money these are taxpayer dollars, the the hard-earned tax dollars of uh people in Michigan's third congressional district, to responsibly recapitalize the service rather than potentially enrich members of the administration.

Yeah, ma'am, importantly, we are buying uh uh really needed uh assets and capabilities and infrastructure to to uh get after the needs of the nation. Um for reconciliation we have major shore projects uh that include uh Training Center Cape May we've worked that uh project at the Coast Guard yard. to be able to maintain those vessels uh in building out Guam, Newport, and and Kodiak.

And again, I'm sorry to interrupt you, but the question was about the the the fiscal responsibility of this historic investment, which was huge. How are we making sure that, you know, there's not sort of inside deals being cut here? Specifically, you know, we we are concerned about these allegations against Sean Planky. How are you making sure that that is not continuing to to go on?

ma'am we uh we follow all the the acquisition procurement rules as as required by the department of homeland security and within our homeland our our head of contracting activity.

And and what does that look like? I mean in in in practice who's who's making sure that they're followed to accuracy? I mean this that this is what we're doing here right now by asking these questions, it's the essential function of of our role uh in an oversight capacity, but internally how how are you making sure that that happens? And again, you know I just wanna stress to you this this is about wise and and fiscally responsible usage of the American taxpayer dollars at a time when people can't afford to put groceries on their table.

Yes ma'am. So we we do have within our our contracting uh uh and acquisition levels within the contracting organization, we have multiple levels of review, including uh a multi-million and above contracts go to department for that same review to make sure that they're following all the rules of acquisition.

Do you feel that there is adequate oversight, people who are personally invested within the service, making sure that these dollars and cents are accounted for? And - and are you willing to take that personal responsibility as well?

Yes, ma'am. I - I - I, uh, I believe that our - our policies, uh, do create that oversight necessary, uh, for, uh, to meet all the FAR requirements and, uh, procurement rules.

Well, Vice Admiral, again, I thank you for for coming before this committee. Uh, it's important to answer the questions of the American people and we we do ask you, you know, back on a continued basis so we can continue providing that oversight. Uh, I'm over my time. Thank you for the few extra minutes. Uh, my my good buddy, Mr. Rizal, thank you.

You sure?

He's like, cut her off, cut her off.

Mr. Petronas.

Thank you.

Mr. Petronas.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Uh, Admiral, thank you all for being here. You've got a great team of supporters and behind you there. They do a hell of a job. I'm sitting there looking at Kyle and everybody. Thank you for putting such an outstanding team. I actually share a wall with them, so uh every once in a while they get a little rambunctious, but I appreciate their uh their service in making sure that the trains went on time. Um, curious, uh when when it comes to planning and moving forward, and and I'm sorry that I may have missed this, but this is already asked. But when it comes to planning stations for additional personnel, Where are they going? Where do you wanna put people?

So we we uh we are currently assessing, as I mentioned earlier, sir, that uh the commandant directed, the deputy commandant for operations, and the two uh operational commanders, our Atlantic Area Commander and our Pacific Area Commander, this really comes up uh uh all about the operational priorities within their uh regional domains. So where do we need to put folks based on our past uh data-centric driven operational outcomes that we need to assess and uh prioritize accordingly. So we're basing it on the missions that are out there, the risks to those missions, um and then uh put the personnel and assets where the highest uh uh risk and need is across the service.

Sure. So I mean um I would think Florida's an attractive place to send more of personnel cuz I'd I'm I don't know if there's more encounter data folks being out on the waterways I I love access to the resource. And I know there's a hell of a lot of people that, you know, enjoy the coast of uh Mississippi. So I just know everything along that whole Gulf Coast is something that um people are moving, they're uh they're enjoying what we've got. I just uh like to make sure we're advocating for for where the most encounter data is taking place, putting my two cents in. Um I know of uh of the twenty-five billion At le- I guess at least eight of the twenty-five billion has been obligated for the acquisition process. Um, want- can you touch on the - the re- recapitalization with the money so far?

Sorry, I understand the question to be, uh, maybe just touch on some of the recapitalization efforts across.

Yeah.

Um, I mentioned some of those, uh, those items, uh, earlier, um, to give you some sense of the major short, uh,

Mm-hmm.

projects that we're doing is uh is at the coast guard yard uh we we are uh upgrading that uh very old industrial site that's really important for the future of the fleet and the maintainability there uh at training center cape may which is uh really it's the birthplace of our unlisted workforce we're putting uh funding there um under the uh the twenty-five reconciliation uh to really be able to be more efficient and effective so we can bring more folks into that accession point.

So, speak to um investments in Baltimore. I saw, I guess, is it dry dock operations or dredging?

Yeah, the dry dock operations dredging and also uh looking to purchase a dry dock.

Okay, so and and so currently right now,

It's a build.

are there already these type of operations being done in Baltimore, or is this a a a new investment?

This is a new investment. Uh, we're looking to have this done uh uh, starting in the fall and completing by twenty thirty at the Coast Guard yard.

And any particular reason why Baltimore was selected?

Uh, that's where our current, uh, Coast Guard yard has been for,

Oh, so there is one there already.

there there is there, one there already.

Okay.

What we're doing is with the dredging is making it, uh, capable for our our offshore patrol cutters and national security cutters to come in there. Currently they are not able to come in there so we have more limited capability uh for vessels to be docked in that area.

So, um, So the Baltimore yard right now does um, I guess, updates, retrofitting,

It it does.

repairs. Okay.

Yeah, it doesn't do new construction. It does uh major renovations as well as uh n- a normal uh uh yearly or four-yearly uh uh maintenance plan.

Gotcha. Okay. Uh, thank you for those those answers. Uh, Mr. Chairman, I yield.

Gentlemen yields. This is McDonald-River. Thank you for your patience, and you have five minutes.

Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. Uh, and thank you for allowing me to wave on to ask these questions. Uh, so I come from a Coast Guard family. We have very proud auntie of two Coasties, and, uh, it is critical for the district that I represent in Michigan. Uh, we're literally surrounded by coast. Um, the Great Lake Region h- has a six trillion dollar regional economy, affects millions of Americans, holds ninety percent of the United States' fresh water and directly supports over a million jobs. But here's the thing. It gets really cold in the wintertime. I know you know this. Uh, and the Great Lakes freeze over, which hurts our commerce, it hurts maritime activity. Um, so we have to really think about and invest in icebreaking. Um, they can only do that when the fleet is fully operational. Last season, the Coast Guard's Great Lakes icebreaking fleet operated at reduced capacity, because of engineering concerns with multiple vessels. including the heavy icebreaker, the Mackinaw. So, uh, we feel that, uh, it very acutely. We lost a third of the twenty twenty-six season, uh, and it impacted billions in of economic opportunity. Uh, I know you're aware of the Great Lakes Ice Breaker Act, where we are really focused on how we can be at full capacity here. Um, the act actually required, uh, the Coast Guard to outline how it will design, build and deliver a new Great Lakes heavy icebreaker by March, eighteenth of twenty twenty six, and the bill also required a report detailing that. We have not received any of those reports to date. Uh, and so as we're thinking about, you know, it's it's it's, um, hot as Hades outside right now, but we're already thinking about winter, and so when we with doing that, when can we expect the Coast Guard to deliver the overdue reports?

Uh, ma'am, uh, uh, I will have to get back to you on that specific date, but we are currently working on that report and, uh, this certainly was a challenging winter a- across

Yeah.

the the Great Lakes and uh New England regions. It was really a historic uh ice season for twenty plus years. And, uh, we're continuing to assess and uh see how we can do better operations within those regions.

Yep, that would be terrific. I think I understand um that you there there have been cuts that you are short-staffed I get that but uh deadlines that are implemented that are mandated by Congress are not something to be taken uh lightly and ignored and we actually um need to have that information and my constituents frankly are demanding it um I wanna actually switch to a another issue that I think has already been brought up a bit here but it actually has to do um with the Coast Guard station on the Saginaw River I've asked about this before. I'm gonna ask about this uh every chance I get. The facility was forced to cut its twenty-four seven search and rescue operations down to forty hours, uh, and we have seen our Coast Guard response time drop dramatically respon- I mean increase dramatically. It now can take the Coast Guard hours to respo- to provide critical life-saving support. So to fill the goods, the this gap, we've had to rely on our local law enforcement, first responders, and honestly, just flat out Good Samaritans to help particularly with uh water rescues uh w- in ice. Again, Michigan, there's a theme here, lots of ice. Okay. So last winter we saw nearly a dozen ice rescue calls uh and our local law enforcement and our Good Samaritans came in, saved fifteen lives without any additional support from the Coast Guard on the ground. This is this is our reality. Every winter there are ice rescues. Every summer season there are uh water rescues. Um, and you know that the Saginaw Bay sits on Lake Huron, which is our country's northern border, and it only to me underscores the importance of this national security. So, um, to measure the impact of these station of of the change of the station, last year's NDAA required the Coast Guard to submit an annual measuring staffing response times. Um, based on the delays in implementing the Great Lakes Ice Breaker Act, I'm concerned that we're also not going to get this report, uh, in matters that literally can mean life or death, uh, for the people that I represent. And, um, I, uh, would love for you to, um, also tell me when we can get that report. And lastly, I sent a letter to the commandant calling for the reinstatement of full operations. at the saginaw river um station and uh wondering if you have an update on that

well ma'am uh there's no doubt that uh the safety of all lives are our primary mission at all times and also we'll continue to do that whether it's ice season or summer season uh we'll continue to do that um i mentioned earlier the uh the the common honest task our our operational commanders to come up with a prioritized uh report which are based on those assessments across the entire uh operating area on on the uh the needs within those regions uh to put as we have in the fiscal year twenty seven uh press budget uh up to one or two additional boat crews uh through every boat station in the coast guard and we're looking to see where we can best utilize those people uh to get after the mission uh needs of the american people

I didn't really hear a delivery date on that.

We should have that uh report by the end of the calendar year, yeah.

K, a lot of yields. I got a couple more questions on the second round, um. Wrap this thing up pretty quick. Admiral, after submit significant disputes over the bid award for the waterways commerce cutters, the WCC's are finally under construction. Unfortunately, the WLI, the third WCC variant, is not part of the current design contract. The Coast Guard has preached that communi- commonality, has preached that commonality among the three vessels' designs is the key to limiting construction cost and maintaining a tight timeline. Excluding the WLI from the current design contract unwinds the commonality on which the WDCC acquisition strategy is based. Does the Coast Guard plan to add the WLI to the current WCC design contract, or has the Coast Guard failed to heed the to message in its own sermon?

Yes, sir, uh, to start with the the construction and river tenders in uh inland uh inland tenders are all unique in what they do uh around the nation on rivers in coastal waterways driving piles working uh aids and they're they're difficult so what we've done initially was we've got construction tenders and river tenders there in the current uh contract uh that are similar design the the three remaining vessels are unique they're different they work in areas that are more shallow uh more directed areas that have unique capabilities

Uh, during the lapses in appropriations in fiscal year twenty twenty six, the Coast Guard continued to pay military members even after payroll accounts were exhausted. The Coast Guard did so by using unobligated funds from other accounts, which was styled as a loan to payroll from those accounts. Can you provide an update on the status of these funds, and more specifically, have the funds been returned to the accounts for which they were intended?

Uh, sir, I can give you a a more detailed uh update on those uh uh separately with my staff.

Thank you. I yield back. Mister Carbajal, do you have

Thank you. I have a couple questions after all, before I uh make an announcement. Um Admiral, uh at the beginning of last year at the direction of the administration, the cost

sir this uh from a force design perspective this is about uh streamlining our service and and uh uh taking taking out the decision layers across the organization importantly putting front-line operators out in the field to get their missions done

And the fifteen thousand?

Up to you with the fifteen thousand, yes sir.

Okay. Miss McNeil, do you have any thoughts on this issue?

When we looked at uh the past reforms since twenty nineteen including the current one forced design, we've got a lot of questions about the data and information that was used to inform the decisions about specific reforms and the one question that you just raised We would love to see an answer to that question, how did they arrive at the reduction in the number of senior officers, and also how they arrived at this target of hiring fifteen thousand. We don't know how they arrived at that decision. We're not sure what data and information they used, and we also don't know how that's tied to some type of an outcome or goal that they've established in the forced design. It's a good question and we'd love the answer to that.

as well as the organizational structure that has to be, has to occur for this to be an effective uh change.

Definitely.

Um, Mister Chairman, uh I'm I'm done with my questions, but if uh it's okay with you I wanted to take a minute to, in addition to the staff that you recognized earlier, uh I wanted to recognize our fellow, our Coast Guard fellow, Lieutenant Commander um Amanda He- Gavlik that is here. Uh she's gonna be leaving uh uh subcommittee staff at the end of this month. She's also being elevated to Commander, and I hope to see her someday lead the Coast Guard because she has my full confidence, uh, in terms of her abilities and her talent. So I just wanna take a minute to recognize her for the work that she's done here, with our committee and our subcommittee, and I wish her the best in her future endeavors. And congratulations on being elevated, I think coming up in a few days, uh, to Commander as well. the Coast Guard's in good hands with people like her. This is Chairman Aylibak.

Gentlemen Yields. Are there any other further questions from any members of the subcommittee that have not been recognized? Seeing none, that concludes the hearing for today. I would like to thank each and every one of you for being here today in your witness's testimony and the subcommittee stands adjourned.